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Commissioners approve Black Waterman's Monument at Wells Cove; artist will seek grants and county support letter
Summary
The commission approved placement of a Black Waterman's Monument at Wells Cove on county property, asked staff for an overhead/site plan and agreed to provide a letter of support for a grant application; commissioners also discussed a tabling request and advisory committee input before voting.
The Queen Anne's County Commissioners on Aug. 26 approved a proposal to place a Black Waterman's Monument at Wells Cove on county land and signaled support for the project's grant application.
Artist Tillman Hensley, director of American Patriotic Monuments, Inc. (APMI), presented a maquette and site plan concept showing life-size bronze figures on two oyster/head boats and described the work as a public, walk-through sculpture that would include engraved historical context about Black watermen. Hensley said the project team has Parks & Recreation preliminary approval for the site, a recommendation from the Kent Narrows Foundation and an advisory committee comprised of local watermen and community members.
Why it matters: The proposed monument aims to honor the history of Black watermen in the county and create a public art feature at a high-visibility waterfront site. The proponent said the piece could be completed quickly if fundraising and permitting proceed on an accelerated schedule tied to a 250th-anniversary commemoration.
Board discussion and conditions
- Some commissioners expressed a desire to review an overhead/site layout in the record and to visit the staked site before finalizing approval; Parks & Recreation staff said the location had been staked and was reviewed by staff, and would be documented in a follow-up letter to commissioners.
- A commissioner moved to approve placement of the monument on the county site; another commissioner asked that the commission also provide a letter of support for the grant application. The motion to approve placement passed. Commissioners agreed to provide a letter of support for the grant request.
Funding and maintenance
Hensley said the project will pursue grants and private sponsorships and estimated a project cost in the mid-six-figure range (the artist cited an approximate $475,000 figure as an initial estimate). He said the monument would be constructed by outside foundries and artists and that APMI will pursue fundraising; Hensley said the group is not dependent on county funding but welcomed county support.
Safety, durability and insurance
Commissioners asked about durability and vandalism repair. Hensley said the piece will be low-maintenance stainless steel with bronze figures and that APMI has addressed maintenance concerns in prior projects; commissioners asked that insurance and maintenance expectations be documented in project agreements.
Next steps
- Parks & Recreation will provide a written confirmation of site review and stake locations. - The county will prepare a letter of support to accompany the project's grant application. - Project proponents will continue fundraising and grant applications; the commission approved placement on county property pending standard permitting and agreements.
Ending: The commission approved the monument site placement and agreed to a letter of support; commissioners asked staff to supply an overhead/site plan and documentation from Parks & Recreation to the meeting record.
